Catholic Saint of the Day

Saint Saturninus was Bishop of Touloise in the 3rd century. St. Saturninus went from Rome by the direction of Pope Fabian, about the year 245, to preach the faith in Gaul He was martyred by being tied to a bull and dragged through the city.

St. Catherine Laboure at an early age entered the community of the Daughters of Charity, in Paris, France. On November 27, 1830 the lady showed St. Catherine the medal of the Immaculate Conception, now universally known as the "Miraculous Medal."

St. James Intercisus was a Persian who lived in the fifth century. He was executed by having his body cut apart into 28 pieces, beginning with his fingers (hence his surname "Intercisus" - meaning "cut to pieces"), and then beheaded. All the while, he kept declaring his faith that his body would one day rise in glory.

St. John Berchmans was born at Diest in Brabant (Modern Belgium), on March 13, 1599; died at Rome, August 13, 1621. He is the patron saint of Altar Boys His parents watched with the greatest solicitude over the formation of his character. He was naturally kind, gentle, and affectionate towards them, a favourite with his playmates, brave and open, attractive in manner, and with a bright, joyful disposition. Yet he was also, by natural disposition, impetuous and fickle.

Pope Pius XI universally instituted The Feast of Christ the King in 1925 in his encyclical Quas Primas. Pope Pius XI connected the denial of Christ as king to the rise of secularism. At the time of Quas Primas, secularism was on the rise, and many Christians, even Catholics, were doubting Christ's authority, as well as the Church's, and even doubting Christ's existence.

Several groups of martyrs were slain for the faith in Vietnam from 1798 until 1861. Between 1798 and 1853, sixty-four were martyred, receiving beatification in 1900. Those who died in a second group, between 1859 and 1861, were beatified in 1909. There were twenty-eight courageous men and women who died for the faith during a long period of persecution.

Little is known of this apostolic father beyond a few facts. He was a disciple of S. Peter, and perhaps of S. Paul. It is thought that the Clement whom S. Paul praises as a faithful fellow- worker, whose name is written in the Book of Life [Philippians 4:3], was Clement, afterwards bishop of Rome. But there is great difficulty in admitting this supposition. It is certain that Clement, the idol of the Petrine party in the Primitive Church, about whom their myths and traditions circled lovingly, was quite removed in feeling from the Pauline party.

Saint Cecilia, the patron of music, is said to have heard heavenly music inside her heart when she was forced to marry the pagan, Valerian. A wealth of music, art and festivals in honor of St. Cecilia has grown from this little bit of information from her biography. She is the acclaimed patron saint of music, especially church music, as well as that of musicians, composers, instrument makers and poets. The name Cecilia means blind and so, although we don't know if she herself couldn't see, she is also the Catholic patron saint of the blind.

The Protoevangelium of James tells us that Anna and Joachim offered Mary to God in the Temple when she was three years old. This was to carry out a promise made to God when Anna was still childless. Mary’s presentation has an important theological purpose. It continues the impact of the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and of the birth of Mary.

For 15 years Saint King Edmund ruled over the East Angles with what all acknowledged as Christian dignity and justice until being martyred by invading Danes for refusing to ban Christianity in his realm. Saint Edmund remains the only English sovereign until the time of King Charles I to die for religious beliefs. Along with St. George, St. Edmund is the Patron Saint of England.